Bencic advances after Osaka withdraws with injury at Australian Open

MELBOURNE — Belinda Bencic advanced to the Round of 16 at the Australian Open after former No. 1 Naomi Osaka withdrew from their third-round meeting due to injury after losing the first set 7-6(3) . Bencic is playing in her first Grand Slam since giving birth to daughter Bella, and is in her first round of 16 at a major since the 2023 US Open.

Before Bencic left the court, he signed the camera “Get well soon, Mama.”

Bencic, 27, will face either world no. 3 Coco Gauff or Leylah Fernandez in the fourth round. The 2016 Olympic champion is bidding to make her first Grand Slam quarter-final since the 2021 US Open.

Facing each other for the first time since the 2022 Miami Open, Osaka built a 5-3 lead in the opening set as she noticeably began to alter her service movement to compensate for her discomfort. Bencic broke serve and held before Osaka took a medical timeout to assess the injury. Bencic played a disciplined tiebreak for 7-3 after 57 minutes.

Osaka slowly walked to her chair before deciding to retire. Osaka began her 2025 season by reaching the final of the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand. There, Osaka won the first set over Clara Tauson before abruptly retiring due to an abdominal injury. Osaka has been forced to withdraw from her last three tournaments after ending her 2024 season at the China Open with a back injury against Coco Gauff.

More to follow…